#5: Charles Bradley and his Extraordinaires at Turner Hall.
Why? Because your ears are still ringing from the Adele neo-soul show at the Grammy’s last week, and you’re in the mood for some authentic and bluesy hard-life tales with a heavy back beat. Daptone Records—which brought you the likes of Sharon Jones and The Mighty Imperials—strikes again with their “resurrection” of Charles Bradley, whose hard knock life has left him with lots of stories to tell. The perfect R&B way to get ready for some high kicking on Mardi Gras—do a little soul searching before you start throwing the beads.
#4: Windfall Theatre’s Wittenberg at Village Church Arts, 130 E. Juneau.
Why? Because academia is always a good locale for satire, and David Davalos’s play hits the jackpot with heady mix of history and farce. Taking us back to the 16th century, the play throws Hamlet, Dr. Faustus and Martin Luther into the teacher’s lounge and engages them in a philosophical debate that’s half Tom Stoppard and half Marx Brothers. Milwaukee stalwarts David Flores and Robert W.C. Kennedy star, and Carol Zippel directs.
#3: Milwaukee Chamber Theatre’s A Thousand Words at Broadway Theatre Center.
Why? Because it’s nice when a new play comes our way, and even nicer when it is shepherded and created by the natives. Gwendolyn Rice’s drama was part of Milwaukee Chamber Theatre’s Montgomery Davis Play Development Series, and it’s receiving its fully-stage premiere thanks to Madison’s Forward Theatre and the MCT. The story centers on the great Depression-era photographer Walker Evans, but it’s set in both present day and 1930s America, and asks fascinating questions about the nature of art and creativity, and the how the “business” of art affects the perception of beauty in our lives. See Jenna Kashou's story about the play here.
#2: Milwaukee Ballet’s Winter Series at the Pabst Theatre.
Why? World Premiere. World Premiere. World Premiere. That’s right, three of ‘em. By three choreographers with wide-ranging styles and a nimble company that can do just about anything. Brock Clawson is rooted in the eclectic and jazzy style of Chicago companies like Gus Giordano. The MB regularly features the elegant and witty choreography of company member Petr Zahradnicek. And Mauro de Candia, who won 2010’s Genesis Competition, is recognized as one of the most exciting new choreographers in Germany, where he has primarily worked for the past decade.
#1: Alverno Presents’ Sexy Results at Turner Hall Ballroom.
Why? Because Brent Gohde and his Cedar Block collective have staged all sorts of entertaining “interventions” in the past few years, but none of them match the ambition of this show, which attempts to find the subatomic entity known as The God Particle through music, art and a bit of stand-up comedy. Gathering collaborators from around the country—including artist Ashley Morgan, musician Nicholas Sanborn and actor Tim Higgins--Gohde will set them loose in the appropriately apocalyptic Turner Hall. Whether or not they actually win the Nobel Prize for Physics—one of Gohde’s stated goals—Sexy Results will surely set you to thinking about quarks, anti-matter, dark energy, and the meaning of life in this universe, and any others that might be out there watching.